The Ape-Man Cometh – Shooting begins on new Tarzan film

It’s turning out to be Christmas in July for monkey-minded pop culture fans. First, what is probably the greatest ape-adventure film ever created (or evolved – depending on which way you swing) was released last Friday (see Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), and now news that is so scintillating it will make the most stalwart simian spin in circles – shooting has actually begun on the new (as yet unnamed) Tarzan movie!

Even though it’s going to be a long two-years before we see the illustrious Ape-Man on the big screen again (with a release date planned for July 1, 2016), the stellar talent involved with this picture – which includes Alexander Skarsgård (as Tarzan), Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie (as Jane), Christoph Waltz, Djimon Hounsou and John Hurt, with David Yates (of Harry Potter fame) directing – will hopefully make it well worth the wait.

We’ll try to pick up some more information about the film for you at next week’s Edgar Rice Burroughs panel at San Diego Comic-Con (follow our live SDCC Twitter updates @nerdvana #sdcc #sdcc2014), but in the meantime you can wallow in the grandeur of the Tarzan press release below.

TARZAN SWINGS INTO ACTION AS FILMING BEGINS
ON THE NEW 3D ACTION ADVENTURE

Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, and Christoph Waltz
are starring in the Jerry Weintraub production under the direction of David Yates.

David Yates, who helmed the last four “Harry Potter” blockbusters, including “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Parts 1 & 2,” is directing. Jerry Weintraub (“Behind the Candelabra,” the “Ocean’s” trilogy) is producing the film, together with David Barron (the “Harry Potter” films, upcoming “Cinderella”). Susan Ekins, Nikolas Korda, David Yates, Mike Richardson and Bruce Berman are serving as executive producers.

It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash.

The adventure is being shot at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, as well as on location around the UK.

A Jerry Weintraub production, the Tarzan action adventure is slated for release on July 1, 2016, and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.